The Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation (MNEPR) is an international programme designed to facilitate co-operation and assistance to the Russian Federation in the field of spent nuclear fuel safety and radioactive waste management. Projects covered by MNEPR include the securing and cleaning up spent nuclear fuel storage sites and dismantling old decommissioned nuclear submarines.
The MNEPR Framework Agreement was signed by several OECD member countries and the Russian Federation in Stockholm, Sweden on 21 May 2003. It provides a legal framework designed to promote co-operation in the field of the safety of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management in the Russian Federation, by dealing with critical legal issues such as site access and tax exemption.
The OECD Secretary-General and the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs are co-depositories for the MNEPR.
A Protocol on Claims, Legal Proceedings and Indemnification was adopted in addition to the MNEPR Framework Agreement. This Protocol basically ensures that claims against Contributing Parties and their personnel or contractors for any loss or damage arising from activities undertaken pursuant to the MNEPR Framework Agreement are not brought by the Russian Party and, if brought by a third party, are indemnified by the Russian Party. It contains, in particular, a model indemnity confirmation letter to be provided by the Russian Federation Ministry for Atomic Energy to contractors providing assistance under the MNEPR Framework Agreement.
The OECD Secretary-General and the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs are co-depositories for the MNEPR Protocol.
